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A grand 2 day menopause, peri-menopause- or just-need -a-pause retreat on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, October 18-19, 2025 in the historic seaside town of Bristol, Rhode Island!

Flag the small-town of Bristol for your itinerary. Just 15 miles from bustling Newport, the coastal town is on the map for the parade of all Fourth of July parades. It’s been a tradition here since 1785, and Bristol is home to the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the country. And there are other compelling reasons to visit.

Go on a foliage-hopping tour from the grounds and sculpture gardens of the 19th-century Linden Place mansion to bayfront Blithewold, the 44-room bayfront manor of the Van Wickle family, set in 33 acres painted by century-old maples, towering sequoias and autumnally-hued October chrysanthemums.

Providence and Newport swim in attention from Rhode Island visitors, but there’s plenty to see beyond the city and the sea in the Ocean State. Here are five destinations, from quiet New England harbor villages to bustling towns repowered with breweries and entertainment venues that deserve more than a wave when charting your personal Rhode map.

One of New England’s best under-the-radar destinations, Bristol, Rhode Island is a storybook waterfront town overlooking Narragansett Bay. In the fall, its quaint streets lined with authentic colonial architecture become a visual feast as the leaves turn to glorious shades of red, yellow, and orange.

While the big cities duke it out to determine which place has the splashiest celebration for July 4, this Rhode Island town has gone the longest. The town of about 22,000 people started celebrating the nation’s independence in 1785 with a parade, and it’s become the longest-continuing Independence Day celebration in the United States.

Many small American towns may boast that they bleed Red, White and Blue, but the little coastal town of Bristol RI really does.  At least on its main street, where the center line isn’t white or double yellow, but striped in the colors of the American Flag.

Barrington Books in Barrington won Obrochta's heart, especially the "wonderful children's section." Bristol is about five miles away; read on the porch at the Bradford-Dimond-Norris-House, an inn in town. And Ink Fish Books in Warren, about three miles away, was another favorite of hers. The shop turns six this year and specializes in food and book pairings. 

One of New England’s best under-the-radar destinations, Bristol, Rhode Island is a storybook waterfront town overlooking Narragansett Bay. In the fall, its quaint streets lined with authentic colonial architecture become a visual feast as the leaves turn to glorious shades of red, yellow, and orange.

But a scant 30 minutes to the north, on a peninsula flanked by the Narragansett Bay, the comparatively chiller town of Bristol ticks all the same boxes, even if the chance of a Swift encounter is a flat zero. 

From the windswept coastlines of Rhode Island and the tranquil Berkshires to the woodsy and mountainous landscapes of Utah, these quirky yet tasteful properties allow you to step into a world very different from your own.

One of Rhode Island’s most picturesque towns, Bristol is still largely unknown to many travelers. They’re missing its fine cuisine, fascinating history and architecture, and the many different waterfront activities offered along its miles of coastline.

I’m a Floridian through and through, but something about Bristol, Rhode Island, feels like a second home to me. It’s probably the warm welcome from locals like Brian Travers, proprietor of the Bradford-Dimond-Norris House bed and breakfast, where we stay every time, or the quintessential New England Americana of the place—especially at the beginning of July.

Visitors can explore a historic saltwater farm and oceanfront wildlife refuge, tour the Herreshoff Marine Museum/America’s Cup Hall of Fame, enjoy Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum (called one of New England's top five public gardens by Yankee Magazine), or stroll the pedestrian-friendly downtown area.

A storybook waterfront town overlooking Narragansett Bay, Bristol, Rhode Island turns into a snowglobe-style wonderland on Dec. 7-8 with the Bristol Christmas Festival. The European-inspired holiday market and festival is a city-wide affair, with Bristol homes dressed up to dazzle at the annual “Deck-the-Door" competition. Outdoor vendors in festive holiday huts are scattered throughout the streets.

It may be the smallest state in the U.S., but with 400 miles of coastline, Rhode Island has a well-deserved reputation for excellent seafood, from squid to oysters. Nothing says “Ocean State” quite like quahogs, though.